Moffat Mungazi
Everything AI
Dr Edward Sagomba
AS we continue to learn everything about AI, let us recognise that AI is continuously advancing at an unprecedented pace.
Every day when you wake up, AI will not be the same as you left it the previous night.
This realisation resonates with the wise words from Heraclitus, a Greek philosopher, who said: “No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it’s not the same river and he’s not the same man”.
At face value, these wise words may just seem like that are just words. What does this have to do with AI?
True, these words are perplexing, but let us also realise that they carry profound meaning and significance to what is happening today, particularly with AI.
The philosopher in me says that essentially, Heraclitus was advising that both the river and the person are in a perpetual state of change.
What does that mean to us? It means that it is nearly impossible for any encounter to be exactly repeated. So, the encounter you had with AI yesterday will not be repeated today. This idea challenges our perception of constancy and emphasises the dynamic nature of today’s life in the face of AI.
When it comes to the development and deployment of AI technologies, let me give a straightforward interpretation of these words.
The words by Heraclitus suggest that every moment in today’s fast-evolving world of AI is unique and cannot be replicated. When a person steps into a river, the flowing water is never the same as before, this is similar to what is happening to Artificial Intelligence (AI).
The AI application you used or encountered yesterday (the river) is constantly moving, transporting new water and experiencing various changes, such as temperature and speed (AI is learning new things from the data which we are feeding it. AI is developing and learning every second we feed it with information).
Likewise, the person (AI users; you and me) who steps into the river (AI) is also never the same.
We (AI users) are constantly evolving, and experiencing new thoughts, emotions, and perspectives; so is AI constantly evolving, learning and experiencing our human world.
The river, metaphorical for AI technologies in this article, and the individual (Me and You; AI users), both undergo continuous transformations. But let us, however, truly grasp the depth of these words. To get the full essence of Heraclitus’ words, let us delve deeper into an unexpected philosophical concept that is inherent in these words; the philosophy of identity.
The philosophy of identity gives us a greater understanding of the nature of individuality and presents further questions of what truly defines a person.
To contextualise this, let me introduce another philosopher, David Hume who gave us what is called the bundle theory. In this theory, David Hume argued that personal identity is not an amalgamated and static entity, but rather personal identity is a collection of different experiences, memories, and perceptions.
What does this have to do with AI?
When we (you and me) use AI applications, AI collects information on our individual experiences, memories and perceptions.
Let us picture this, how many millions if not billions of people use AI applications daily? I am sure your guess is as good as mine.
Furthermore, in the same vein, we (you and me; AI users) are not the same person we once were last year or even yesterday, as our identity is constantly evolving and being shaped by our experiences.
Every day, every minute our identities are evolving, and we are constantly being shaped by what we experience from the world around us, including what we learn from AI, social media, etc
Let us apply the philosophy of identity to Heraclitus’ words and AI, when we do so it becomes even more thought-provoking.
The river (AI technologies) is in a state of constant change, but so are we (you and me; AI users).
The river (AI) is a metaphor or it mimics the different experiences that shape our identity.
Each step into the river (AI) represents a new encounter, a new experience that alters who we are. Just as the river (AI) is never the same, we (you and me; AI users) are also undergoing constant transformation, influenced by the experiences and interactions we have with the world around us including AI applications.
Furthermore, Heraclitus’s words remind us of the temporariness of life. It serves as a reminder to appreciate the present moment, as it will never be replicated the same way again.
In other words, each experience that we are having is unique and momentary, just like the river’s (AI technologies) ever-changing flow.
When we embrace this understanding, we can understand that with each passing moment, AI technologies are continuously evolving so are we and the world around us.
What am I saying, we change and evolve, AI is also learning from us, evolving and changing.
Therefore, learning from Heraclitus’ wise words, “No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it’s not the same river and he’s not the same man” summarises a profound truth about the dynamic nature of today’s life.
Life that is being mimicked and controlled by AI.
Heraclitus is teaching us to embrace change, appreciate the uniqueness of each moment, and acknowledge the continuous evolution of AI, ourselves and the world.
Whether we like it or not, both the river (AI technologies) and the individual (you and me; AI users) are in a perpetual state of change. We must live fully and appreciate the ever-changing world that surrounds us.
What am I saying, in this article; AI is constantly evolving and as Zimbabweans, we are already using it and is changing who we are as a people. AI cannot be wished away. With this realisation in mind, all we can do is find ways of regulating the development and deployment of AI technologies.
With this, the call remains, the urgent establishment of the Zimbabwe Artificial Intelligence Governance and Regulatory Framework (ZAIGRF).
This is the most crucial step towards harnessing the potential of AI for the benefit of all Zimbabweans.
The AI governance framework helps in promoting ethical development and deployment of AI technologies, ensuring transparency and accountability, and fostering collaboration among Zimbabwean stakeholders in the technology industry.
If you have specific areas that you need to be addressed in the area of Artificial intelligence (AI), contact the editor or email the author directly and the issue will be addressed in the following week’s column.
Dr Evans Sagomba is a Doctor of Philosophy and, Chartered Marketer (CMktr, FCIM) with an MPhil and PhD. He specializes in AI, Ethics, and Policy Research, and is an AI Governance and Policy Consultant. His expertise extends to Ethics of War and Peace and Political Philosophy. Contact: [email protected] /Social media handles; /LinkedIn; @/Dr Evans Sagomba (MSc Marketing)(FCIM )(MPhil) (PhD)/X: @esagomba
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